River Derwent, Derbyshire

The Derwent is a river in Derbyshire, England. It is 66mi long and is a tributary of the River Trent, which it joins south of Derby. For half its course, the river flows through the Peak District.Much of the river's route, with the exception of the city of Derby, is rural. However the river has also seen many human uses, and between Matlock and Derby was one of the cradles of the Industrial Revolution, providing power to the first industrial scale cotton mills. Today it provides a water supply to several surrounding cities, and its steeply sided valley is an important communications corridor through the uplands of the Peak District.Because of its scenic qualities, the valley of the River Derwent sees many tourist visitors. The upper reaches pass through the Peak District National Park, whilst the middle reaches around the old spa town of Matlock Bath which attracts tourists because of its souvenir shops and amusement arcades, together with attractions such as the Heights of Abraham and its cable car.EtymologyDerwent is derived from Brittonic river name *Deruentiū, Latinised as Deruentiō, meaning "(Belonging/Pertaining to the) Forest of Oak Trees"; the old river name survived in medieval Welsh poetry, such as Pais Dinogad ("Dinogad's Smock") attached to the larger poem Y Gododdin, as Derwennydd.